Alas, the dancers won't be at the Sculpture Park nor the drummers at the Library. The music can be found at THE BLACK BOX with the Circle of Friends stage. The "Taste of Franklin" will also be there. The robots return to the Methodist Church and more stuff will be happening at the Historical Museum.

A special treat for the 1st Annual Cultural Festival is the "Taste of Franklin." You can sample from seven Franklin restaurants. (yes, it was 8)The "Taste of Franklin" will be available on Sunday, August 2 from 12 Noon – 5:00 PM in the parking lot outside THE BLACK BOX theater.

This one page (two sided print) tri-fold brochure gives you a handy copy of all the info of what, when, and where the events of the Festival will take place.If you have a mobile device, you can check out the webpage or Facebook. If you would like the hard copy, the Festival team put one together for you.

In the midst of our vacations and summer plans, please keep in mind that once again there will be elections this Fall for School Committee. If you love education and the town of Franklin, please consider serving your community in this very important and rewarding way. This is your chance to better understand how decisions are made and be an integral part of shaping education here in Franklin.

I served on the School Committee for two years. It was definitely an education for me, to witness the care and thoughtful consideration that goes into every choice that is made for our children. It had a sacred quality to it- it was an honor to serve with these very conscientious and caring members of this committee.

In general, our work included meeting every other Tuesday with additional sub- committee responsibilities. Although I expected the work to be intense, it was less demanding than I imagined. It is a commitment, no question, but also rewarding in the tangible results that we achieved.

When I served, I remember having a conversation with someone who had concerns about an issue and kept saying “ they do this, they do that,” and my response was “There is no they, I am they.” It is a convenient myth to think that someone “out there” is doing something to us. Whatever administrative body you think is running things, it is us- our neighbors, our friends, people like you and me who are volunteering, who are trying to do the right thing for our children and our town. We do it because we want to walk the talk, because education is a priority and we are willing to take the time to give back to our community in this way.

It’s time to step up, Franklin, and show up and participate! We can’t complain about who gets voted in or what’s being done if we have a chance to take part, and we don’t. Two years ago, there was no competition for the two open seats on the School Committee- seven people ran for seven seats. Apathy. Let’s not do that again. It is embarrassing for our town. Care enough about the education in this town to take part. Please.

Nomination papers will be available for pick up at the Town Clerk’s office the first week in August. At that point you will receive more detailed information. Papers are due back around mid-September.

Enjoy this last month of summer and please consider this transformative experience of serving the schools and your community here in Franklin.

The FCC grants funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support such non-profit organizations and programs as The 4th of July Celebration, Concerts on the Common, Franklin Public Library, Franklin Historical Museum, Franklin Public Schools, local Arts and Cultural events and so much more.

Are you a Franklin resident who would like to share your interests in arts and culture? Contact the FCC by email above and learn about this committee. Unless otherwise indicated, meetings take place every 2nd Monday of the month from September through June. Time commitment is limited to a couple of hours a month, rewards are limitless.

In the years since, the number of adolescents who say they have sent a naked or sexually provocative picture has only increased. Indeed, about 20 to 30 percent of teens have sexted, according to the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University.

A definitive answer may be coming now that the state Legislature has taken up the debate. State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, recently filed a bill that would amend the state’s child pornography laws to make sexting between minors a noncriminal offense or misdemeanor.

Currently, teenagers in Massachusetts arrested for sexting can be charged with a felony for child pornography. And if convicted, they would be required to register as a sex offender.

Alhough declining, the veteran unemployment rate is still higher than local veterans agents would like it to be due to a handful of factors.

Dale Kurtz, Franklin's veterans agent, said many employers look down on physical or emotional issues veterans brought back from the battlefields.“A lot of companies try to (look past those issues) but don’t,” said Kurtz.

Something as simple as reliable transportation can be a challenge to getting veterans back to work.

As it has for many years before, Franklin served as a way station for Saturday's Pan-Mass Challenge, the cross-state bike ride to raise funds to fight cancer.

Throngs of riders stopped at the Remington Middle School to rest, hydrate and prepare for the remainder of the ride to Provincetown. All were raising money for research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Franklin resident Jim McCusker, one of the volunteer organizers at the site, was in the midst of things, using his cowbell to direct riders to the appropriate location.

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Some of the 300 hand crafted 'empty bowls' prepared by the Franklin Art Association to be sold and the proceeds benefit the Franklin Food Pantry.The empty bowls will be on sale at the Town Common Saturday from 12 - 2:00 PM and again on Sunday at THE BLACK BOX parking lot from 12 - 5:00 PM

On Sunday, July 26, numerous groups from the Blackstone Valley gathered at the Blackstone Gorge to celebrate many years of hard work protecting and restoring the Blackstone River.

In 1990 the EPA said the Blackstone River was one of the most polluted rivers in the country. But thanks to the Clean Water Act and years of water quality monitoring and clean-up efforts, the river is coming back to life. How can we tell? In 1972 there were only two species of fish in the river and today there are 23! This is all thanks to the hard work of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor and our partners, including the Blackstone River Coalition, Blackstone River Watershed Association, the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, Mass Audubon, RI Audubon Society, Save the Bay and many more groups and individuals.

The event last week recognized the campaign for a "Fishable/Swimmable Blackstone River by 2015," which started back in 2003, and allowed us to recognize and offer our gratitude for the efforts and accomplishments to date. Hundreds of people have volunteered their efforts over the years, and those efforts are clearly improving our entire river system.

Click here to learn about a "Living Lab Cleaning Up the Blackstone Naturally."

Gear Up Your Camera for 2016 Calendar Photo Contest!

Calling all photography enthusiasts!

Submissions are now being accepted for the

"2016 in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor" calendar!

Photos must be taken within the 25 communities of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor and reflect the character of the area over the different seasons of the year. Photos may be taken outdoors or inside one of our historical sites. Entries must be your original photography, taken in high resolution (300 dpi), horizontal JPG format. You can submit as many photos as you like. The deadline to enter is Saturday, August 15, 2015.

Please e-mail mail@blackstoneheritagecorridor.org to have an entry form sent to you. Each individual photo for the contest must be submitted with its own entry form. One photo will be selected for the cover and that person will receive 12 free 2016 calendars. Six free calendars will be given to each photographer featured in the individual months.

One of our Volunteers-in-Parks members is interested in starting a photography club with the Blackstone Heritage Corridor.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Bonnie Combs at BCombs@BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org.

August 2015 photo pictured here was taken by Anthony Shepherd of East Providence, RI.

Volunteer Opportunity!

Canal Clean Up: Saturday, August 8 in Northbridge, MA

The Blackstone Canal Conservancy is sponsoring a morning of brush clearing and trash removal along the canal and trails in the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park. All who are interested in preserving the canal are invited to meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 8 at the Plummer's Landing west parking area at the canal on Church Street in Northbridge, MA.

Volunteers are requested to bring loppers, bow saws, brush cutters and work gloves. No power tools will be used. Wear clothing appropriate for the weather and getting dirty. This is one of a continuing series of work events to improve the canal, tow path and adjacent trails.

We will gather at the Roger Williams National Memorial for a celebration honoring the birth of the National Park Service.
We will also to celebrate the establishment of the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park as the 402nd unit of the National Park Service!

Enjoy light refreshments, stroll the beautiful grounds, check out the exhibits at the Visitor Center and learn what's happening in YOUR National Park! Celebration is from 5-7 p.m.

Location: Roger Williams National Memorial

282 North Main Street

Providence, RI

GO!

Get Ready!

Get Set !

GO! for a walk, a tour, a bike ride, a paddle, a boat ride,

a special event or harvest experience - all in the month of September in the wonderful Blackstone River Valley

National Heritage Corridor.

Click on the brochure icon to download a complete listing of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor's 2015 GO! program!

The Greenway Challenge 2015

An Adventure Race Like No Other!

September 26, 2015

The mission of the Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge is to promote the recreational quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley.

The Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. works with partner organizations to support clean water campaigns and develop hiking and biking trails, wildlife projects, environmental education programs and greater waterway access.

Each year, the Greenway Challenge athletes run, paddle and bike on

a newly designed course through one of the most beautiful and historic

regions of New England, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

Time flies when you're having fun! The BVPC volunteers have led more than 225 guided tours of the Blackstone River Watershed during their 15 years of operation. With every stroke of the paddle they share their passion for paddling and their knowledge of natural resources.

Paddle Club volunteers give the Blackstone Valley an amazing gift of their time and enthusiasm to promote the river experiences available throughout the Blackstone Heritage Corridor. We thank each and every volunteer for all that they do.

Join these wonderful folks during the Paddle Club's 2015 season and you are sure to have a memorable experience out on the river!

Dates and locations of paddle tours in August listed below:

August 4 - Seekonk River

Pawtucket, RI

August 11 - Ranger Night at Blackstone Gorge

Blackstone, MA

August 18 - Spring Lake Paddle Party

Burrillville, RI

August 25 - Stump Pond

Smithfield, RI

For other paddle dates and for more information, please visit the website:

Are you or a family member active in the Military or National Guard? The Blue Star Museum Program is a nationwide program that allows all active Military and National Guard members free access, with 5 family members, to participating museums around the country.

Numerous museums in the Blackstone Heritage Corridor are participating in this patriotic program, such as the Museum of Work & Culture, the EcoTarium, and Slater Mill, just to name a few. The Blue Star Museum program runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

For more information and a list of participating museums, visit the website:

Blackstone Heritage Corridor enjoys the partnership of numerous organizations all working to protect, support and enhance our communities and region. In this section, we list just a sampling of activities and events taking place during the coming month.

August 1 - Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Dragonflies at Broad Meadow Brook

Learn about odonates - dragonflies and their damselfy cousins - and what makes them the engineering marvels of the natural world. An

indoor presentation will cover odonate FAQs, including dragonfly form and function. We will explore outdoors for skimmers, darners, and meadowhawks, looking for dragonfly behavior. Come take a closer

look at these high-powered eating machines. Presentation and walk is from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Each year the Garden Party for Girls and their American Girl Dolls is a favorite summer activity at Hearthside House for mothers and their daughters. This year's featured girl is the Historical character Samantha who lived with her grandmother in a mansion, similar to Hearthside, in New York in 1904.

This event is for girls ages 5-10 and their dolls, along with an adult. Activities include refreshments of lemonade and cookies, a craft activity, a presentation about Samantha's leisure time, and a chance to try out some turn-of-the-century games. Seatings are at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

In the tradition of the Early Hopedale Community which met each year to celebrate the abolition of slavery in the British empire with speeches and a picnic at Nelsons's Grove. Bring a chair or blanket, food and drinks and join us as we rally to wage peace, seek justice and end war.

Open Mike available for poetry, peace and protest music, and social justice statements. Winning essays from the Adin Ballou Peace Essay Contest will be read aloud. Picnic is from 3-5 p.m.

A screening of new and dynamic films by Quebecois filmmakers entered into the film festival. Vote for your favorite and help decide which films make it to the next round of judging! Admission is $10 and includes a drink and popcorn. Film Festival is from 7-10 p.m.

In 1965 Roger Williams National Memorial was created by Congress as a place where the concept of "Freedom of Religion" could be discussed along with Roger Williams' words and beliefs that focused on the individual's conscience

as the guide to religious belief, not the state. The Roger Williams National Memorial is now getting a new Visitor Center and Wayside

exhibits as part of its 50th Anniversary Celebration. Come along

to get a sneak peak at a few of the new exhibit panels, and join in a discussion on the exhibit planning process and how the National Park Service has changed the way it tells stories over the past 20 years. Walkabout begins at 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy educational fun for all ages at this butterfly festival where butterflies fly free in their natural habitats. The day's activities include naturalist-led walks and workshops, performances, live caterpillars, butterfly art, face painting, children's activities, butterfly garden tours, butterfly plant sales, delicious food, and much more! Come in costume and get a prize!

Come to Chase Park for a free concert featuring Eddy Shoe, an original rock band with roots stemming from a combo of Blues, Jazz and Classic Rock. Refreshments will be provided by the historic Whitman House with proceeds benefiting the 1694 Whitman Homestead. Concert starts at 5:30 p.m.

The most exciting trad combination of recent times embark on their first ever tour of the United States as a trio. Matt Molloy (traditional Irish Flute), John Carty (fiddle) and Arty McGlynn (guitar) will perform together in this rare and exciting event! Show is from 8-10 p.m.

Hearthside House Museum will be open for tours where a special exhibit on the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair will be featured. The exhibit includes image galleries and exhibits displayed throughout the historic home that served as the model for the Rhode Island Building at the legendary St. Louis World's Fair. Tours are self-guided, however costumed docents will be on hand to provide information. This is the last public opening of exhibit before it closes. Open house and tour is from 1-4 p.m. (last admittance will be at 3 p.m.)